When I started to teach by finger pattern, one of the first activities I had my students do was to draw the fingering charts for each of the keys they were learning. This is a great way to give students … Read More

This handy reference for note-reading on violin, viola, cello and bass is great to have to reinforce music-reading skills. Download it for free, or purchase it along with the worksheets. Worksheets help reinforce note-reading and fingering on all strings, and … Read More

Tightening and Loosening the Bow Properly…. Tired of bows that are too tight and students who forget to loosen their bows? These posters and handouts are great for teaching beginners, and will give your students a visual reminder every time … Read More

Wow, what a week! It started last Monday and Tuesday with my school’s two-day music retreat. Then on Wednesday, Halloween night, exhausted from teaching and from the retreat, I was offered a last-minute table for Friday and Saturday at the … Read More

Did you know about these very generous grants in Canada and Ontario to support instrumental music programmes in schools and in the community? Apply soon, because the deadlines are approaching fast! MusiCounts Band Aid Program MusiCounts provides up to … Read More

After the basics…. Once you’ve established the 6 Basic Finger Patterns for teaching strings, and how to name notes using the Note Circle, teaching students to play in different keys becomes easy. You don’t even have to teach them … Read More

Start your beginner strings playing in different keys right away with these easy-to-read first position fingering charts! Fingering charts help students easily understand and memorize fingering for different keys, and should be an essential part of any strings classroom. Whether … Read More

Using just six finger patterns can greatly simplify how you teach violin, viola, cello and double bass. I first wrote about The Six Basic Finger Patterns back when I started this blog. Since then, I’ve created many materials and strategies you … Read More

It took me a few years to streamline my system of signing out and collecting the many, many pieces of music that we go through every year. My first few years of teaching, I didn’t even even bother signing out … Read More

Time to get organized! It’s the beginning of the school year and it’s time to make up some new seating plans. I thought I’d tweak my seating plan and share it with those of you who don’t have one, … Read More

Testimonials

Smart Scales for Violin is a wonderful tool for any aspiring string student. The method is comprehensive, smartly organized and effective. The results are immediate and students enjoy this…
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Ivana Popovic
- Toronto

Smartmusicteacher.com is the one place you will find everything you need: blog posts, reviews, teaching materials, inspiration, and just great ideas that I’ve never come across before. Not only…
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Alessia D.
- Toronto

Smart String Teacher’s Advanced Fingering Charts are invaluable for illustrating finger patterns. The charts are particularly useful when figuring out shifting arrangements. I refer to them constantly when learning…
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Sharon Scanlan

I’m decades older than most of Grace Law’s students, and adults who have been playing for a while are much harder to teach than kids. But her scale method…
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